Ear guards



Nov. 28, 1967 LQNGO 3,354,471

EAR GUARDS Filed May 10, 1965 INVENTOR. Mmgnee'r E. lo/vgo Arrae/vnUnited States Patent 3,354,471 EAR GUARDS Margaret E. Longo, 13931Newland St., Apt. 7, Westminster, Calif. 92683 Filed May 10, 1965, Ser.No. 454,408 1 Claim. (Cl. 2174) The present invention relates generallyto ear guards, and more particularly to means for preventing the ingressof foreign material into a persons ear.

The internal portions of a persons ear, including the eardrum, may besensitive to certain atmospheric conditions such as dust and rain, or toother irritants and foreign material in the air. Also, the internalparts of a per sons ear may be subject to severe infections whenirritated by foreign materials such as hairspray, perfume, lacquer andother materials frequently used by Women as beauty aids.

The internal portions of a persons ear are normally exposed to allatmospheric conditions since many people do not wear hats, caps,earmuffs or similar wearing apparel, except in the most severe weather.

Medical studies have shown that modern-day hairsprays contain manydifferent chemicals, some of which are very irritating when they come incontact with the sensitive portions of a persons ear. As a result, manywomen suffer considerable discomfort and pain from the resultinginfection. To avoid this, it would be desirable to have a mask, guard orshield whereby such foreign materials would be prevented from enteringthe ear.

To this extent it is an object of the present invention to provide anear guard which can :be placed adjacent a persons ear to prevent theingress of foreign material.

Another object of the subject invention is to provide an ear guard ascharacterized above which is quickly and easily positioned on thewearers ear or removed therefrom, as the case may be.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ear guard ascharacterized above which is formed of plastic material which conformsto the shape of and lays adjacent to the persons ear.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an earguard as characterized above which comprises a generally oval-shapeddisk having an arcuately shaped bead along the marginal edge thereof forfirmly engaging the persons ear.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide an earguard as characterized above which is simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and which is rugged and dependable in operation.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claim. The device itself,however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, togetherwith ad ditional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understoodfrom the following description of specific embodiments when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing an ear guardaccording to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the ear guard, showing the interiorthereof;

FIGURE 3 is a similar perspective view of the ear guard, showing theexterior thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the subject ear guard,taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a transversed sectional view taken substantially along line55 of FIGURE 4.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a person10 wearing an ear guard 12 according to the present invention. Suchguard comprises a generally oval-shaped disk 14 and a finger operatedclasp 16. The disk 14 may be formed of any appropriate material such .asplastic, metal or cardboard, but is preferably formed of material whichis capable of conforming slightly to the shape of the persons ear. Thatis, as will hereinafter become more apparent, the disk 14 provides ashield against foreign material trying to enter the persons ear. Due tothe different shapes of peoples ears, it is desirable that such disk besomewhat flexible to conform however necessary.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, disk 14 isformed with a head or flange 18 about the peripheral or marginal edgethereof. Such 'bead extends about the entire disk, and as shown inFIGURES 4 and 5 engages the persons ear when interposed between the diskand the ear. It is preferable to provide such bead with a generallysemi-circular cross section so that it will not cause discomfort for thewearer but, nonetheless, will firmly fit against the ear.

To further insure proper sealing engagement between the disk and thepersons ear, it has been 'found desirable to provide disk 14 with agenerally elliptical or egg shape, such configuration more closelyapproximating the shape of a persons ear.

The clasp 16 as shown most clearly in FIGURE 4, comprises a pair ofrelatively movable arms 20 and 22. Arm 20, as shown, is generallyZ-shaped and has an end portion 20a attached to or embedded within thedisk 14. It has been found most desirable to embed end portion 20b ofarm 26 in the end of disk 14 to prevent any interference thereof withthe sealing effect of the disk.

The arm 22 is provided with a dished end portion 22a for engagement withthe persons ear as will hereinafter become more apparent. Said arm isfurther provided with a small tab 22b which is inserted within asuitable opening formed in arm 20. A leaf spring 24 is formed out of arm20 or it may be separate therefrom to operate between the arms 20 and 22to bias the latter toward engagement with the former. Such leaf spring,of course, may be formed of any appropriate material such as springsteel or the like, while arms 20 and 22 may be formed of stainlesssteel, plastic or any other appropriate material. The leaf spring 24, asshown most clearly in FIG- URE 3 of the drawings, is formed integrallywith arm 20, although, if desired, it could be formed separately andattached thereto to provide the same effect.

When it is desired to protect the ear from foreign material, it is asimple matter to place the subject ear guard in proper position. Suchguard 12 may be used under many diiferent circumstances, as for instancewhen riding in an open automobile, water or snow skiing or when merelyspraying the hair with hairspray, perfume, lacquer or the like. In theevent a persons ears are sensitive to water and/or soap, the subject earguard 12 may be used during showering or washing of the persons face.

To apply the subject ear guard to a given persons ear, it is merelynecessary to grip the clasp 16 between the fingers and press the arms 20and 22 so that the end portion 22a of arm 22 is moved away from disk 14.The guard is then placed adjacent the persons ear so that the bead 1.8thereon firmly engages or lays against the ear.

The generally oval shape of disk 14 provides the protecting effectagainst the outwardly exposed area and the opening of the ear.

When in this position, the clasp 16 is released, Whereupon the leafspring 24 causes arm 22 to pivot relative to arm 20 until the endportion 22a engages the lower portion of the persons ear. When thisoccurs, the persons Patented Nov. 28, 1967 car is firmly gripped so thatthe disk 14 is held in such proper position.

While thus positioned, any foreign material such as hairspray, perfumeor lacquer which is directed toward the hair or ears will be preventedfrom entering the ear due to the engagement as above described.

Following the application of such material, the guard can be quickly andeasily removed by operating the clasp 16 to its open position.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a guard or shieldfor preventing the ingress of foreign material into a persons ear undersubstantially all circumstances. Such guard is quickly and easilypositioned on the ear or removed therefrom as the case may be.

AlthoughI have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claim.

I claim:

An ear guard to prevent ingress of hair spray to a persons earcomprising in combination: a plastic flat oval-shaped thin disk havinginner and outer surfaces and having a size and shape to cover only theoutwardly exposed area of a normal sized ear of a wearer, a beadextending about the entire edge of said inner surface and having agenerally semi-circular cross section, clasp means on one of the endscontaining the major diameter of said oval-shaped disk comprising a pairof spring biased relatively movable operating members extendingoutwardly beyond said one 'end and including a dished end portionsecured to one of said operating members, said dished end portionextending along said inner surface inwardly from said one end, saiddished end portion and said one end releasably engaging the lowerportion of a wearers ear to firmly maintain said bead against theoutwardly exposed area of the ear and to permit removal of said diskwithout interfering with the coilfure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 428,511 5/1890 Moore 2-209958,263 5/1910 Loewe 2209 X 1,468,556 9/1923 Camp et a1. 2174 X1,845,689 2/1932 Turrell et al 2-174 2,428,897 10/1947 Ungemah 22092,593,892 4/1952 Kindel 2174 X 2,700,162 1/1955 Fuller 2209 2,712,1347/1945 Cyr 2-209 3,082,431 3/1963 Watts 2198 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,4198/1939 England.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

